Love Mercy

The entire fifteenth chapter of Luke is comprised of Jesus teaching the scribes and Pharisees the lesson of being merciful. The parable of the lost sheep, and of the woman who lost one of her pieces of silver, and of the prodigal son, were all designed to reprove the unmerciful spirit of these men. Note the opening verses of the chapter: “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” Because these men were not happy about needy souls gathering to hear Jesus, he saw fit to demonstrate graphically to them that they were missing the entire point of the true manner and purpose of serving God. The point that was made in each of these parables is that God is seeking to find and save those who are astray of the faith, and fellowship, and peace of his presence in their lives. What Jesus was saying in these things is that God loves to restore those who have fallen to the wayside, and so should we. We need also remember that these religious higher-ups were the same men who scorned Jesus for healing the sick and the afflicted on the Sabbath day (Mk. 3:1-6). There is something very wrong with someone who is not extremely glad for someone who is in need, having their need fulfilled. In fact there is something very wrong with anyone who is not naturally drawn to those who are in great need. The scripture says plainly that “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psm. 34:1) Anyone who is following hard after God’s Spirit feels the same way: “Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate" (Rom. 12:16).

Sadly a great many folks today are also missing the point of the Gospel by overloading on religious service and falling short of keeping themselves in a spiritual condition of being merciful and truly caring toward those in need. Micah summed up the truth of this predicament, saying, "Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8). There is nothing safer my friend, than being merciful in the way you view and deal with the problems and afflictions of others, as James so duly noted: “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment" (Jas. 2:13). There is nothing more dangerous than failing to do these things, as stated by Solomon: "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works" (Prov. 24:11,12)? And let’s allow James to conclude this matter for us: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (Jas. 1:27). That about says it I believe. Amen.